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headliners without dome lights

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Old Jul 7, 2004 | 07:34 PM
  #1  
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Iroc
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headliners without dome lights

I received my new abs headliner kit today an I'm planning to install it this weekend. I debating on whether or not to re-install the overhead console or not. I kind of like since it's in mint condition with a mint flashlight but it looks a little busy. Does anyone have pictures of their headliner installed without any sort of dome light? I know I could install a plain dome light but I figure why? The car will only be driven during nice summer days plus there is a light in the footwell to provide some light if needed.

Anyway, if you have a picture, please post it.

Oh yeah, I do not want to sell the overhead console if I don't install it. I guess I should say that in advance
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Old Jul 7, 2004 | 09:43 PM
  #2  
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From: Hattiesburg, MS, USA
Car: 1992 Jade Green---Trans Am Converti
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
I don't miss mine.. Convertible's never came with dome lights...

Kevin D.
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 11:13 AM
  #3  
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From: North East GA
Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: T56
The dome light holds alot of the headliner up, atleast on t-top cars mine saged like crasy without it. I guess you could install some door panel clips on the back side or something to hold it up in the middle.
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 11:30 AM
  #4  
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Iroc
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
I thought about the dome light holding it up but I thought worse case, I'd put it in without the light and see where it sags. At that point I could try to address the areas that would need it. I also thought that if anyone else has installed a abs headliner without a dome light, they would have a little insight too. We'll see what happens. I still haven't ruled out installing the console either.
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 12:43 PM
  #5  
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From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Aviator is correct, the dome light does hold up the center portion of the headliner. If you look at it, the only places on a T-top car that the headliner is attached to the roof is under the sun visors, the sunvisors also have the screws that help. then the rear hatch trim piece that goes all the way across the car, and then there is the sail panels that hold up the ends. If you want to go simple, go to a junkyard and get a standard light. I think you might be the only person in history to get rid of the Overhead console on this site, but its your car and I can undertand your gripe about it being too busy...

John
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 01:46 PM
  #6  
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Iroc
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
For the record, I have a hardtop car. I should have mentioned that in my first post. That said, wouldn't the molding around the door support it a little too? I'm just guessing since I haven't starting removing the old headliner yet.

I do realize that I would be on a short list as far as taking a mint condition overhead console with a perfect flashlight out but it makes the headliner look cluttered. I still may put it back in since it is in such good condition and all but I thought I'd ask if anyone has a headliner without the domelight.
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 04:17 PM
  #7  
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From: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
I think you will have the same or similar problem, OUr headliners are too flat to have enough support in the middle by themselves. Newer cars (like my 95 Riv) have more of a bubble shape so there is more rigidity... Of course there may be clips holding it up in the middle.

John
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 05:23 PM
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From: North East GA
Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: T56
If you decide you like it you could cut some small holes in the plastic backing but not into the material, and put some door clip things in and shove those into a hole in the bar that the dome light would be at.

Anyone got a picture of a hard top with just a dome light it would not be to hard to photoshop it out.

Last edited by Aviator857; Jul 8, 2004 at 10:31 PM.
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 09:50 PM
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Car: 1984 Trans Am
Engine: LT1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt w/ 4.10 gears
you wouldn't be the first to remove an overhead console... i remember reading a post a while back where several people said they had done so. I also wouldn't worry about the dome light having to support the headliner. Being new and adhering to ABS rather than old fiberboard should mean that it adheres well. From experience, the headliner falls when the foam backing deteriorates or when an improper adhesive is used. I don't see either being a problem for you. If your dome light is saving your headliner from falling, it'll buy you a week at most before it's a lost cause.
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 10:30 PM
  #10  
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From: North East GA
Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: T56
we are talking about the abs board sagging down not just the material. The material is well glued on with the replacement boards.
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Old Jul 9, 2004 | 03:24 PM
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Car: 1984 Trans Am
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Axle/Gears: 10 bolt w/ 4.10 gears
Aviator, thanks for the insight. If that's the case, I'm sure there is a way to attach it to the t-bar where it won't be seen (as already suggested).
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Old Jul 9, 2004 | 08:25 PM
  #12  
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Iroc
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
Alright, it's in without the overhead console and it's not going anywhere. I took a few pictures but since it was getting dark only one turned out somewhat decent.
Attached Thumbnails headliners without dome lights-picture-003_rs.jpg  
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Old Jul 9, 2004 | 08:26 PM
  #13  
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Iroc
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
Oh yeah, since it was getting dark, I decided to take the picture before putting the new visors in. I have since put them in.
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Old Aug 22, 2004 | 09:28 PM
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From: Austin, TEXAS
Car: 2x1991 & 2000 Camaros
Engine: 350, 305 & LS1
Transmission: TH-700R4 and 4l60E
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...=ABS+Headliner
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Old Aug 23, 2004 | 12:28 PM
  #15  
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Iroc
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Transmission: 700R4
Why post that link? It had nothing to do with headliners without a dome light. I didn't ask about abs headliners recovered in vinyl Aside from that, I already installed it without the overhead console or a dome light.

I'm just a little confused I suppose
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Old Aug 23, 2004 | 02:01 PM
  #16  
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From: Austin, TEXAS
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Transmission: TH-700R4 and 4l60E
there is a picture of the headliner without the dome light hole cut out.

It is a better picture than the one above that is so dark you can't see the headliner or anything....
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Old Aug 23, 2004 | 06:32 PM
  #17  
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Iroc
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
Originally posted by kewl_blades
there is a picture of the headliner without the dome light hole cut out.

It is a better picture than the one above that is so dark you can't see the headliner or anything....
Not to argue but again I asked for pictures of installed headliners. The pictures in the link provided are uninstalled without a console/dome light. That link would be of absolutely no use in this thread. Hell, I had an uninstalled headliner sitting on the floor when I created the thread.
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Old Aug 23, 2004 | 07:16 PM
  #18  
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Car: Trans am
panther do you have any more pics, i want to do the same thing to mine, i wanna lose the dome light and the overhead console, does your have a ridge running down the middle like the one in the linked webpage, i saw that one had a ridge running down it. I want it to look like stock , but maybe mine does have a ridge down it and the console covers it up . Id like to see some more pics and get some info about the headliner since i will be doing it next year or possible this year b4 it goes into storage.
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Old Aug 23, 2004 | 07:17 PM
  #19  
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also how do you get the little plastic things off that go around the seat belts, i dont see any way to get them off , but i also havent had the headliner off yet .
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Old Aug 23, 2004 | 09:14 PM
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From: Austin, TEXAS
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Transmission: TH-700R4 and 4l60E
So the point being of this thread was so that you can see a headliner?

You already knew what it looked like with the console and you already knew what the bare headliner looked like and you just wanted a picture of a headliner with a dome light?

I'm sorry that you did not find it usefull...but someone might have...and that is always the point.
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Old Aug 26, 2004 | 08:47 AM
  #21  
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Iroc
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700R4
nolan, I can take more pictures if you want. The headliner does have a ridge in the center but it helps break up the bare flat. I am very happy with the look without the overhead console or a dome light. As for the plastic pieces, I bought a new set to go with the new headliner so I just cut them off. The new ones have "slits" in them to slip over the belts. If you're asking how to remove them so you can uninstall the headliner, they just pop off.

kewl_blades, the point of the thread was to see if anyone had successfully installed an abs headliner without a console or dome light. I wanted a clean look that wasn't so busy but was afraid it wouldn't work without something in the middle to support it.
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